Hot on the Highstreet Week 230 – Gilmour & Gray

Posted on 20/10/2014 by Milly

Let me introduce you to Gilmour & Gray – handmade quality Chelsea boots with a colourful twist.

G&G launched on Thursday 16^th October, a high-end and innovative brand, masterminded by two brothers from Gloucestershire. Currently based in London the boots are taking to the streets just in time the Christmas rush. Unisex and made entirely from one piece of the finest Portuguese leather, these boots will inspire Autumn and Christmas shoppers – the perfect present for father, son, daughter and mother.

A timeless classic, these Chelsea boots offer the consumer a cutting edge yet classy look. They are comfortable, hard-wearing and ideal for chilly winter weather. The Autumn collection comprises of four designs: traditional brown suede, brown suede with red elastic, blue elastic and green elastic.

The Gilmour & Gray collection range from European size 36 – 46 and start from £150 per pair, including VAT, (excluding postage and packaging).

Buy your boots here: www.gilmourandgray.co.uk

The Nutcracker 2013, The Coliseum

Posted on 08/01/2014 by Milly

A growing Christmas tree, a floating hot air balloon, hurrying ice-skaters, mean rats, dancing snowflakes, a heroic nutcracker… Tchaikovsky’s magical ballet is the ultimate Christmas show, always elegant and wonderfully imaginative. Slump into a comfortable velvet Coliseum seat and let the immaculate dancing and mesmerising set engross you.

The orchestra bring a new energy to this familiar score. The narrative is slightly overcomplicated by the part-sharing and splitting: Junor Souza dances as the masked Nutcracker, whilst Vadim Muntagirov dances him unmasked as well as taking on the role of the Drosselmeyer’s nephew; meanwhile grown-up Clara also dances as the Sugar Plum Fairy, completely confusing me! At least the dancers seem to know what they are doing and seamlessly float from scene to scene, excelling in Wayne Eagling’s virtuosic choreography.

The lead couple, Daria Klimentova and Vadim Muntagirov complement each other, and move effortlessly in the main sequences. While James Streeter is fantastically gruesome as the shudderingly menacing King Rat. It is Eagling’s ensemble dances which really shine in this production, the pretty snowflake chorus and the second act Waltz of the Flowers highlights the English National Ballet talent.

The Tring Park School kids are a joy on stage. Assured and adorable, they animate the production, and dance and sing with an excited spring in their step.

Another magical production of the Nutcracker at the Coliseum completes the Christmas festivities.

View more information about the English National Ballet productions here: www.ballet.org.uk